264 



XXIX. ELATINE^. 



Tamariscinece are near Caryophjlleo!, Portulaceis, and Frankeniacece, whicli are separated principally 

 by the structure of their ovules and their floury albumen ; they further differ from Caryophylh<B and 

 Franheniacea: in their alternate and fleshy leaves, from Portulacece in habit, insertion, &o. They have also 

 some affinity with Crassulacecs. 



Taviariscineee (proper) are confined to the Old World, where they extend from 9° to 65° of north 

 latitude. They prefer sea-shores, the margins^ of brackish lakes, the banks of rivers and torrents, in 

 sandy or clayey soils. ISeaumwiea extend from the I^evant to Central Asia ; Fmiquiera is a Mexican 

 shrub. — Ed.] 



Tamariscinece contain tannin, resin and a volatile oil, which render them bitter and astringent. The 

 bark of ilfv''*c«''*o 5'«''»ra<2wca is employed in Germany for jaundice ; that of Tamarix ffallica is aperient. 

 T. mannifei-a, which grows on Mount Sinai and elsewhere in Arabia, secretes, as the result of the 

 puncture of a Oynips, a saccharine matter, supposed by some to be the manna which fed the Hebrews 

 in the desert. The galls of other species (also produced by the puncture of an insect) are valued for 

 their strongly astringent properties. 



XXIX. ELATINEJE. 



(Elatine.^, Gamhessedes. — Elatinacb^, Lindl.) 



Sepals 2-6. Petals 2-5, hypogynous, imbricate. Stamens equal or double the 

 number of the petals, hypogynous. Otaet S~5-celled. Ovules anatropous. Fetiit a 

 capsule. Seeds exalbuminous. — Leaves opposite or fascicled, stipulate. 



Elatine octandra. 

 Diagram. 



Elatine odandt'a. 

 Flower (mag.). 



Elatine hexandva. 

 Hower, leaves, and stipules (mog.). 



